Improvement in conductors  check-boxes



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PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS w. KNOX, OF nEw YORK, N. Y. r

IMPROVEMENT IN CONDUCTORS CHECK-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No, 47,646, dated May 9, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. Knox, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad Conductors Check-Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of a vertical section of my improved check-box, taken in the line :0 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is afront elevation; and Fig. 3 is a plan of the lower end of the box when closed, the outer cover, B, being removed.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention consists of a box to receive checks issued to passengers by officers and conductors on railroad-cars and other convcyances, and which is so secured that its contents cannotbe removed without exposure.

A represents the box, which may be made of metal or any other suitable material, and of such size and shape as to be easily carried in the larger pockets of a coat. The box shown in this example is of the form of a parallelogram, with hinged outside covers of a curved form. The flat top E of the box is slotted across at f to receive tickets or checks. Flat springs or a are secured against the inside of the top plate, E, in such a manner as to meet beneath and across the slot f, their edges being turned over so as to permit a ticket to be pushed down between them, thereby forcing them apart, but to prevent the withdrawal from their grasp of any ticket that has been inserted between them. 7

B is a cover hinged to one of the edges of the box, and secured to it, when shut down, by

means of a spring-latch, which takes into an' eye in the overhanging flange b of the cover. The cover B is convex, but its sides 0 are extended downward so as to coincide, when the cover is shut, with the edges of the box.

D is a curtain or partition made across the inside of the cover, of the same length as the slot f, into which it fits when the cover is shut down, pushing before it into the box any ticket which may be suspended between the springs a a.

The bottom F of the box is hinged to one of its inner edges, and is fastened by means of a staple, 2', formed in a bracket, 9, which projects from within the box, the staple, when the hinged bottom is closed, extending through a slot, h, cut in the bottom, and being then locked by a hook, G, which is pivoted to the outside of said bottom F, near its hinged end.

.A circular depression, H, is made in the middle of the said bottom F, on its outside, and said hook G crosses the depression in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The bottom F of the box is concealed by a hinged cover, B, made similar to the cover B, and secured, when shut, in

the same manner. The object of the depression H is to provide a place for a seal, which,

when attached, is intended to cover that part of the shank of the hook G which overlies the depression. A perforated ear or lug, e, is

formed in the cover B, to enable one to attach a cord or chain thereto, and also to designate the delivery end of the box.

The purpose of my invention is to enable railroad and other transportation companies to have control over the receipts derived from passengers, which receipts are now thought to be often divided between the agents who receive and the companies and owners to whom the receipts ought to be delivered.

My invention will enable such companies and near the end of the route, to insert it in said box through the slot f. The tickets or checks may have also a notice printed on them desiring the passengers to place their tickets in such box when the conductor presents it. Cards containing the same notice may also be hung conspicuously in the cars or vehicles, so as to call the attention of the passengers thereto. When the conductor reaches theend of his route, he is to deliver the box tothe agent or receiver delegated for that purpose, who will observe if the seal has been tampered with before he proceedsto open the hinged bottom E and bottom F being inclosed, respectively, by outer covers, 13 B, substantially as above described.

2. The springs or a, on either side of the slot or perforation f, in combination with the partition D of the cover B, substantially as and for the purpose above described.

V THOS. W. KNOX.

Witnesses:

J. P. HALL,

M. M. LIVINGSTON. 

